Box-fastener.



No. 657,865. Patented Sept. Il, |900. J. M. F ELKINS.

' I,ENFIN nn/ Illu" j' un 0 '793 I UNiTn STATES PATENT trice.

JAMES M. FELKINS, OF AMERICUS, MISSOURI.

BOX-FASTENER.

SPECIFICATIDN formingpart of Letters Patent No. 657,865, dated September 1 1, 1900.

Application led May 7,1900. Serial No. 15,749. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES M. FELKINs, a citizen of the United States,residing at Americus, in the county of Montgomery and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Box-Fastener, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to shipping-crates, and has for its object to provide improved means for securing the lid to the body thereof, so as to prevent accidental displacement of the lid and at the same time permitting of the lid being readily removed whenever desired. Itis furthermore designed to mountthe fastening device upon the usual cleats that project at the ends of a crate and forln handles therefor, and to locate the device so as to be effectually housed and protected against accidental disengagement by contact with other crates and in the handling thereof.

Vith these and other objects in view the present invent-ion consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accom panying drawings,and particularly pointed out in the appended claim, it being understood that changes in the form,proportion, size, and minor details may be made within the scope of the claim without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an underneath perspective View of an ordinary egg-crate equipped with the present fastening. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view thereof. Fig. S is a detail inverted plan view of the end of the crate having the fastening.

Corresponding parts in the figures of the drawings are designated by like characters of reference.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, l designates an ordinary rectangular box or common egg-crate having an end cleat 2, which extends entirely across one end thereof and is iiushwith the upper edge of the crate. At the opposite end of the crate is another transverse cleat 3, which is located a predetermined distance below the upper edge of the crate. The top 4t of the crate projects at opposite ends of the latter, so that one end may lie flat upon the end cleat 2, while the opposite end is provided with a transverse strip 5, that extends across the under side of the top, so as to lie against the adjacent outer side of the end of the crate and also upon the cleat 3. At the end of the crate having the cleat 2 there is provided a substantially U- shaped metallic band 6, which has its opposite sides fastened to the outer sides of the box, and its transverse portion projects a suitable distance above the upper edge of the crate, so as to embrace the latter and form a loop-shaped lid-receiving seat, within which the adjacent end of the lid is designed to be inserted to hold the same in place.

The means for fastening the opposite end of the top or lid comprises a catch 7 in lthe form of a metal stem, which is pendent from an intermediate point of the strip 5 and is provided in its outer edge and adjacent to its lower end with a notch 8, so as to form a hook. The projecting portion of the stem or catch is received within a transverse slot 9, formed through the cleat 3, and the lower hooked eX- tremity of the catch projects below the lower side of the cleat, so as to be exposed for engagement with the latch 10. As plainly illustrated in Fig. 3, this latch is formed from a single length of heavy spring-wire or a metal rod, which has one end twisted into an eye l1 for the reception of a suitable fastening 12, which is driven into the under side of the cleat 3 in order that the latch may lie flat against said under side of the cleat. Opposite the fastening 12 there is provided a keeper 13 in the form of va hook, which is driven into the end of the crate and against the under side of the cleat, with its bill curving downwardly, so that the opening` thereto is upon the under side of the keeper in order that the free end of the latch may be conveniently engaged therewith, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 ofthe drawings.

In applying the top or lid to the crate the end thereof which has no cleat or strip is inserted beneath the loop or U-shaped strap 6, after which the opposite end is dropped down upon the cleat or transverse shoulder 3, so that the catch may project downwardly through the slot 9 in said shoulder. The

springlatch l0 is thenengaged with the notched or hooked portion of the catch, and then its free end is engaged with the keeper 13, whereby the latch is held in a longitudi- IOO- nal position across the under side of the cleat or shoulder and fixed Within the notch in the catch '7, thus preventing an upward displace ment of the adjacent end of the lid or top. To loosen the top, it is merely necessary to disengage the free end of the latch from the keeper, when the latch may be drawn outwardly upon its fastening as a center to withdraw said latch from the notch in the catch, whereby the adjacent end of the lid is free to be elevated and then withdrawn from beneath the loop 6 at the opposite end of the crate.

What is claimed is- The combination with a box, having an outer end cleat provided with an intermediate groove or slot, of a lid, having a pendent catch projected through the slot or groove of the cleat, the lower projecting end of the catch being provided in its outer side and opposite the box with a lateral notch, a springwire latch having one end secured to the under side of the cleat, and its intermediate portion received within the notch of the catch, and a keeper pendent from the cleat and having an entrance-opening located upon the inner side and toward the box, the free end of the spring-latch being engaged with the keeper from the inner side thereof.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afliXed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES M. FELKINS.

Witnesses:

T. M. MARLOW, BARTON BAKER. 

